Centriloader



March 1967 H. A. DELCELLIER CENTRILOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR. HENM A. flEiGELLIEf? 62w i saw March 1967 H. A. DELCELLIER CENTRILOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6, 1964 Om ho -.200 02 OF 40m P031200 0 z @P/ INVENTOR. HE/VR/ A. DELCELL/Efi TTORNE United States Patent O 3,310,080 CENTRHLOADER Henri A. Delcellier, Beaurepaire, Quebec, Canada, as-

signor to Canadian lngersoll-Rand Co., Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,290 15 Claims. (Cl. 143-49) This invention relates to paper and pulp machinery and more particularly to apparatus for loading logs into a magazine for pulp grinders.

Conventionally, cut logs, generally four feet long, are manually loaded into magazines for continuous pulp grinders by operators stationed on the charging floor. The operators divert 'any oversized cut logs back to the woodyard and guide the other cut logs into the magazine parallel to the axis of the grinding stone. The charging floor is usually cluttered with large piles of incoming cut logs and diverted cut logs. In the winter, the atmosphere is moist and generally foggy due to the frozen, icy condition of the cut logs being processed. The slippery floor and unstable cut log piles create an accident hazard. Further, the cost of this manual labor is high, averaging six men per day for each pair of magazines being loaded.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of an automatic loading apparatus for feeding cut logs to a grinder magazine, which automatic loading apparatus:

(1) Substantially eliminates manual labor;

(2) Eliminates the hazardous cut log piles;

(3) Automatically controls the magazine loading operation.

The foregoing objects, and the other objects and advantages of the invention which will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are obtained by the provision of a new and improved apparatus for automatically loading cut logs into a grinder magazine. This appaartus comprises a conveyor means for transporting cut logs to the grinder magazine, and a drive means for operating the conveyor means. A gate means is provided intermediate the conveyor means and the magazine, and is movable between a position wherein cut logs are permitted to pass from the conveyor means into the magazine and a position wherein cut logs are prevented from passing from the conveyor means into the magazine. A means is provided for detecting when the magazine is filled with cut logs; and 'a control means is connected to the gate means and the detecting means to be responsive to the detecting means to position the gate means in said position wherein cut logs are prevented from passing from the conveyor means into the magazine when the latter is filled with cut logs. A means is provided for aligning cut logs passing from the conveyor means into the magazine after the cut logs have passed from the conveyor means.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIGS. 1, 1A are continuous plan views of the improved apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 2A are continuous side elevational views of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the gate means, guide means and associated top of the first magazine shown in FIGS. 1, 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic electrical diagram of the control means for the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the photocell and lamp;

3,310,680 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an infra red detecting system.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternative gate locking means.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of an electric hydraulic gate locking system.

Although the principles of thepresent invention are broadly applicable to pulp and paper apparatus, the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with apparatus for loading cut logs into a magazine for pulp grinders and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 2A, a feed means for feeding cut logs 10 to the apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11.

This feed means 11 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 2A) comprises a cable conveyor 12, driven by a motor 14, and a log chute 16. The cut logs 10 are fed by the log chute 16 to a conveyor means such as the chain conveyor 18A of the chain conveyors 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D which successively feed the cut logs 10 to magazines 20A, 20B, 20C of pulp grinders (not shown) as hereinafter explained.

The chain conveyors 18A, 13B, 18C, 18D (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 2A) are each mounted upon a pair of sprockets 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D which are carried by rotatable shafts 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, respectively. One of the shafts 24A, 24B, 24C, MD for each of the chain conveyors 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D is rotatably driven by a motor 28A, 28B, 23C, 28D through a gear reduction drive 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, respectively. Carrier means, such as the lugs 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 2A) are provided, respectively, upon the chain conveyors 18A, 18B, 18C, 181) for engaging the cut logs 10 and maintaining the latter in aligned relationship on the chain conveyors 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D.

As a cut log 10 slides onto the chain conveyor 18A (FIGS, 1, 2), its forward end engages aligning means, such as the inclined guide 32, which aligns the forward ends of the cut logs 10 on the chain conveyor 18A. The aligned cut logs 10 then pass a trimming means, such as the saw 34, which cuts the rearward ends of any oversized cut logs 10 and, thus, dictates the maximum length of the cut logs 10 fed to the magazines 20A, 20B, 200.

When a cut log 10 reaches the left hand end, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, of chain conveyor 18A, such cut log 10 slides onto a gate means, such as the gate 36A which is pivoted at 38A on the magazine 20A and counterweighted by weight 40A to the normally up position as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3. The cut log 10 passes through the gate 36A into engagement with resilient guide means, such as the resilient rubber or plastic plate 42A (FIGS. 1, 2, 3), which resilient plate 42A maintains the falling cut log 10 in the aligned conveyor position and guides it into funnel means, such as the funnel 44A at the top, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, of the magazine 20A. When the magazine 20A is filled, the resilient plate 42A assumes the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 and light from a lamp 45A (FIG. 5), normally directed on a detecting means, such as the photocell 46A, is blocked from the photocell 46A. This light blockage, as hereinafter more specifically explained, causes the photocell 46A to close the gate 36A through associated control means (FIG. 4), thereby permitting subsequent cut logs 10 to pass over the closed gate 36A to chain conveyor 18B.

CONTROL MEANS More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the photocells 46A, 46B, 46C are connected to relays 48A, 48B, 480, respectively, to energize the latter upon the blocking of light from their respective lamps 45A, 45B, 45C.

The relays 48A, 43B, 48C are, respectively, connected to normally open contacts 50A, 59B, 50C to close the latter when energized by the photocells 46A, 46B, 46C. The contacts 56A, StBB, StlC, in turn, are adapted to energize gate closing means, such as the magnets 52A, 52B, 520, respectively, when closed. This energization of the magnets 52A, 52B, 52C serves to actuate the counterweights 49A, 40B, 40C to move the gates 36A, 36B, 36C to their closed positions and maintain them in such closed positions. The normally open contacts 56A, 56B, 56C, when closed, connect the electrical circuits of the photocells and the control circuit for the motors 14, 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, in series. The contacts 56A, 56B, 56C are closed by relays 54A, 54B, 54C, respectively, which are automatically energized upon the closing of the contacts 59A, StlB, 50C. The motor control circuit includes a rectifier 61, :a relay 58 energized by the closing of all of the contacts SA, 56B, 56C, and a normally closed contact 60 adapted to be opened by the relay 58 when the latter is energized. The contact 68, as shown in FIG. 4, controls the supply of electrical current to the motors 14, 23A, 28B, 28C, 28D and, when opened, interrupts the operation of such motors. Thus, it will be seen that the filling of all the magazines 20A, 213B, 20C with cut logs 10 automatically shuts off the motors 14, 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D to stop the conveyors 12, 18A, 18B, 18C, 13D.

In the operation of the illustrated apparatus, when the magazine 2110 is filled with cut logs 10' (FIG. 2), the photocell 46C is blocked from its lamp 45C and (referring to FIG. 4) the other photocells 46A and 46B have been previously blocked from their lamps 45A and 4513, respectively. Interruption of the photocell 46C (FIG. 4) energizes relay 48C, thereby closing normally open contact 58C with resultant energization of gate closing means, such as magnet 52C, which magnet 52C holds counterweight 40C and gate 36C in the up or locked position. Closure of normally open contact 50C energizes relay 54C with resultant closure of normally open contact 56C.

The relays 54B and 54A have been previously closed by the photocells 46B and 46A, respectively, the normally open cont-acts 56B and 56A (in series with now closed contact 56C) are also closed. As a result, relay b is energized resulting in opening of circuit interrupting means, such as normally closed contact 60 (FIGS. 1 and 4), in the motor circuit and de-energization of motors 14, 28A, 28B, 28C. Thus, the transportation of cut logs It to the magazines 20A, 20B, 26C is automatically stopped when such magazines are filled with logs.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, alternatively in the control means shown in FIG. 4, the photocells 46A, 46B, 46C, and their respective lamps 45A, 45B, 45C, each may be replaced by an infra red lamp 6t} (FIG. 6) and an infra red detector 62.

The gate locking means may comprise (FIG. '7) a solenoid 64 for operating a lock bolt 66 or, as shown in FIG. 8, an air cylinder 68 connected at 70 to gate 3(A and operated by a valve 72 in turn operated by solenoid 74.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing an automatic loading apparatus which:

(1) Substantially eliminates manual labor;

(2) Eliminates the hazardous cut log piles; and

(3) Automatically controls the magazine loading operation.

While in accordance with the patent statutes preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically loading cut logs into a magazine, said apparatus comprising:

conveyor means for transporting cut logs to said magazine;

drive means for operating said conveyor means;

gate means intermediate said conveyor means and said magazine and movable between a position wherein cut logs are permitted to pass from said conveyor means into said magazine and a position wherein cut logs are prevented from passing from said conveyor means into said magazine;

means for detecting when said magazine is filled with cut logs;

control means connected to said gate means and said detecting means to be responsive to said detecting means to position said gate means in said position wherein cut logs are prevented from passing from said conveyor means into said magazine when said magazine is filled with logs; and

means for aligning cut logs passing from said conveyor means into said magazine after the cut logs have passed from said conveyor means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said aligning means is disposed within said magazine.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said aligning means comprises a member having walls diverging from said conveyor means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said aligning means comprises a yieldable member engageable by cut logs passing into said magazine from said conveyor means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said yieldable member is a resilient member distortable by cut logs within said magazine as the latter fills with cut logs.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said aligning means also comprises a member having walls diverging from said conveyor means, and said resilient member guides cut logs to said member having said diverging walls.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said detecting means comprises a photocell responsive to the filling of said magazine with cut logs.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said detecting means comprises an infra-red lamp responsive to the filling of said magazine with cut logs.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means are provided for locking said gate means in said position wherein cut logs are prevented from passing from said conveyor means into said magazine.

It An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said gate locking means is magnetically operated.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said gate locking means is solenoid operated.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said gate locking means is fluid operated.

13. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means operatively connect said control means to said drive: means such that said control means causes said conveyor means to operate in response to the level of cut logs in said magazine.

14. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein meansoperatively connect said control means to said drive means such that said control means causes said drive means to interrupt the operation of said conveyor means when said magazine is filled with cut logs.

15. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means are disposed adjacent said conveyor means for trimming one end of the cut logs carried by the latter to make the cut logs a uniform length, and means are provided for aligning the ends of the cut logs opposite to said ends trimmed by said trimming means prior to such trimming.

5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,802,560 8/ 1957 Engleson 198-31 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,9 9, 1/19 1 Musgrave 198-29 WILLIAM W. DYER,IR.,P E 921,672 5/1909 Burr 198 66 X 5 2,311,747 2/1943 Gooch 198-66 EDWARD SROKA W BRAY,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOADING CUT LOGS INTO A MAGAZINE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: CONVEYOR MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING CUT LOGS TO SAID MAGAZINE; DRIVE MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID CONVEYOR MEANS; GATE MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND SAID MAGAZINE AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION WHEREIN CUT LOGS ARE PERMITTED TO PASS FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INTO SAID MAGAZINE AND A POSITION WHEREIN CUT LOGS ARE PREVENTED FROM PASSING FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INTO SAID MAGAZINE; MEANS FOR DETECTING WHEN SAID MAGEZINE IS FILLED WITH CUT LOGS; CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GATE MEANS AND SAID DETECTING MEANS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO SAID DETECTING MEANS TO POSITION SAID GATE MEANS IN SAID POSITION WHEREIN CUT LOGS ARE PREVENTED FROM PASSING FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INTO SAID MAGAZINE WHEN SAID MAGAZINE IS FILLED WITH LOGS; AND MEANS FOR ALIGNING CUT LOGS PASSING FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INTO SAID MAGAZINE AFTER THE CUT LOGS HAVE PASSED FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS. 